You are here: Home / Archives for Social Media

Do What You Are Good At!

By Leave a Comment

One of the easiest things you can do in your direct sales and network marketing business is to remember what you are good at, and then use that to market your business. Yes, you can always learn new ways to get the word out about your business, and stretch your comfort zone, but start with what you know.

In fact, it is a good idea to engage in 2-3 different marketing strategies per month.

Be creative in finding ways to introduce people to your company.  The company you represent usually takes care of the other parts of running a business like customer service, manufacturing and distribution, and designing marketing materials.

However, you want your business to stick from the get go. So use what you have naturally or what you have developed over the years, and talk to people online and off.  Build relationships. Be a resource for others. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Direct Sales, Network Marketing, Social Media, Strategy

The Anatomy of Social Media: Part 2

By

Savour Your Time

Don’t work your fingers to the bones. Get the word out about you and your business in less than 90 minutes a day. Set a timer so you don’t spend all day surfing and chatting.

  1. Don’t do it all in one day. Vary your activities. By the end of the week you will have added more people to your network, had a few good conversations, created interest in your product offerings, and signed up people for your upcoming teleseminar.
  2. The more places people can find you, the more likely they are to get to know you and want to do business with you. It is a compliment when people say to you, “I see you everywhere.”

TIP: Split your time. 30 min in the morning and 30 minutes in the afternoon, add 5 minutes here and there. You can always find a few seconds to tweet no matter where you are. Social Media can be addicting. Remember to put it aside so you can give your complete attention to the task at hand.

35-40 minutes write a blog post, or create an audio or video or presentation from your post. Get ready to push your posts out to your other platforms

20 minutes update facebook–reply to comments and friend requests, update status, invite prospects to your business page

10 minutes to update twitter–reply to tweets, give a shout out, retweet something your followers would like, share a link, tweet about your blog post, video, event, workshop, etc.

10 minutes to post blog links on LinkedIn, upload a presentation, comment on the latest discussion, join a group, connect with a colleage or friend

Keep in mind that Social Media is the way you meet people, build relationships, and showcase your work. When someone is interested in what you have to offer, take the conversation offline. You can direct message them on Twitter, and give them additional contact information. Of course they can always go right to your shopping cart and purchase your product or sign up for a workshop or teleconference from your landing page or website. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Business Development, Communication, Online Marketing, Social Media Tagged With: , ,

The Anatomy of Social Media: Part 1

By

Create an Online Presence

Expand your reach–go from a local business to a world-wide business. Add Social Media to your marketing mix. It doesn’t replace your offline marketing and networking, it enhances it. Learn how all the pieces fit together to make a comprehensive marketing strategy.

If anything, look and see how active you can be in building relationships and your business. There is lots to do. Only do a little at a time. Start with a blog, add a social media platform that makes the most sense to you. When you get the hang of it, add another one. Move only as fast as you can manage the work and the relationships.

Your Blog is the hub of your operation. It is where the conversations happen. It is where you showcase your expertise and introduce your products. Drive traffic from other Social Media platforms to your blog. It’s where people decide if they want to do business with you.

  • Set up a way for people to get your latest blog post sent to their email (Feedburner)
  • Set up an RSS so people can follow your blog (Google Reader)
  • Include a way for people to reach you via Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, You Tube, etc.
  • Include products, workshops, teleclasses that you want to give away or sell

Your Marketing System

Facebook is where you build your business relationships. You share links, articles, tips, photos and videos. People get to know you, how you run your business, what you value, how you treat people. You don’t have to be an expert; you can point them to the experts in your posts. Little by little you’ll build your credibility, and people will be pointing to you as the expert.

Know what your readers want to read, learn about, view, or hear about.

  • Post 4-5 times a day
  • Post a link to your latest blog post
  • Post a link to an article you wrote or uncovered
  • Give a short tip
  • Post an upcoming event
  • Post a video – yours or someone else who will connect with your readers. Write an introduction, summary, or review. Give a short intro to help readers pay attention to important things
  • Create a business page
  • Create a welcome or landing page for first time visitors

Twitter is an up-to-the minute communication tool. You build a list of followers and keep them updated with the business happenings and some personal events in your life. With 140 characters you can post a link to your blog, give a shout out to people who wrote a great article or delivered an over-the-top presentation. You meet like minded individuals with whom you want to learn from or do business together.

  • Follow others, accept follow requests
  • Post a quote
  • Post a shout out or a Follow Friday recommendation
  • Post a short tip, resource, link
  • Post a link to your blog post, article, video
  • Post a lesson from the field — yours or the business world in general
  • Send a direct message
  • Set up lists and send specific messages to your lists
  • Tweet about blog post and drive people back to your business page on Facebook

LinkedIn is a business networking tool. You can look for a job, connect with colleagues, join a business group, and join in on the conversation. It is a real-time resume.

  • Create a professional profile
  • Invite others to join you
  • Post recommendations
  • Request recommendations
  • Request introductions
  • Join local groups, start a discussion, join in on a discussion
  • Search for people in your niche using the “Search” function
  • Turn your blog post into a power point presentation and post it using SlideShare
  • Look for a job
  • Post a job
  • Ask a question, answer a question using the “Answer” function

Ezine Articles is an article submission website. Build your credibility in your niche. Write articles and post them on your blog or post a link on Facebook, Twitter, orLinkedIn driving traffic back to your blog.

  • Write articles appropriate to your niche
  • Write 2-3 a week to build your expert status, write more often if you want to build it faster
  • Write a bio to include at the end of each article with a link to your blog or website

You Tube is a video sharing website. You make the video and you upload it to their website. You can post the videos on your blog, and share the link on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn. Create your own channel – with short tips and how to info, interviews

You just reviewed an online marketing system that doesn’t cost you a dime. What no cost methods do you use to create an online presence? Please share so we can all learn.

Filed Under: Business Development, Free Marketing, Online Marketing, Social Media Tagged With: , ,

3 Ways to Build Your Local Presence

By Leave a Comment

It is always good to have a list of online experts to tap when you need help with your business. It is extra special when you find out they are your next door neighbors.

Getting to know the local community takes some extra work, but it can be fun. Like anything else, know your goals or you’ll get pulled in many different directions.

1. Turn the Promotion of Your Book or Product into a MeetUp

Karen Clark got local and online exposure when she created a Meetup group around the topics in the guidebook Direct Selling Power. As a Co-author, she is a natural draw. With 20 chapters in the book she has most of her monthly topics lined up. Add a few local experts, testimonies, get togethers, and the Meetup calendar is mapped out for the whole year.

2. Get Together to Work

There’s a group in my area that meets once a month at a local restaurant. They have lunch and bring their laptops so they can work on their own projects. You have a group of people that you can chat with, ask a question, or review your ideas. It’s good for the group and it’s good for the restaurant. It is a power lunch!

Another variation of this is Karen Clark’s  Websites and Wine. You bring a laptop and work on your online presence with the help of the host. The host is on hand to answer questions and give advice.

Yes, there is wine. If you bring wine and a dish to share you get $10 off the work shop fee. I’d bring some bruschetta and a bottle of Chardonnay. Sounds like fun.

3. Partner with Local Groups

Partner with the local chamber (or other local groups) and offer a summer speaker series. Pick a general topic and invite local business people to share their expertise. Offer it once a week for six – eight weeks.

Promote the event in Chamber newsletters, online on Facebook, LinkedIn, and definitely tweet about it before, during, and after. Use a recording of the series to sell online after the event.

There are many creative ways to get the word out about you and your business. Do you have any favorites to share?

Filed Under: Building Community, Business Development, Free Marketing, Online Marketing, Social Media Tagged With: , , ,

Quick Guide to Setting Up Twitter Account

By Leave a Comment

Getting started on twitter is easy. Here’s a step-by-step video to guide you through the setup process. Always something new to learn.

It’s good to check your profile and settings now and then. Especially remember to update your Twitter Connections (applications that have access to your account).

Filed Under: Building Brand Awareness, Business Development, Social Media Tagged With: , ,

3 Steps to Adding Value

By Leave a Comment

You hear a lot about adding value to the customer or client experience. How do you do that? What does value even mean?

It depends. Value is really what your customers think is important or worthwhile to them.

Let’s say you are a social media trainer and coach for small businesses. You offer…

  • a blog and web site full of free resources
  • home study courses
  • teleclasses
  • membership site with 1:1 coaching
  • personal coaching

Once a potential client gets to know you, she will gravitate toward you if [Read more...]

Filed Under: Building Community, List Building, Marketing, Social Media, Strategy Tagged With: , ,

Update Facebook in 5 Minutes

By Leave a Comment

Pick up a good tip and then practice it a few times.

I picked up a tip from Michele Schism on how to create a blog post in 10 minutes. One tip was to share videos relevant to your audience or niche.

My facebook tip comes from Mari Smith. She talks about 7 steps to updating facebook. The great part is that she advocates spending only 5 minutes.

This leaves a lot more time to write that article or create your own video to share with your clients next time around.

My Favorite Step:

Create a friend request policy, and let people know how to become a friend. You must…

  • Have a picture
  • Have lots of friends in common
  • Send a personal message along with your friend request

That’s it. As Chris Brogan tweeted, “Social Media is not your Job.”

I say, “Get down to the business of doing business.”

What say you?

Filed Under: Building Community, Business Development, List Building, Online Marketing, Social Media Tagged With: , ,

7 Steps to Better Writing

By 1 Comment

Your blog posts, articles, and social media updates all speak volumes — about you and your business.

Are you a clear, concise, thoughtful women business owner? Or, perhaps a long winded, stand on your soap box type of person.

To avoid being accused of being the later, let me get to the point. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Building Brand Awareness, Business Development, List Building, Social Media Tagged With: , , ,

Are You Out of Your Comfort Zone?

By 2 Comments

You are growing in your marketing adventure. I’m sure you’ve started a few conversations and built some great relationships already.

This is what I call the toe dipping part of marketing. Don’t you get excited when you see your follows and friends and tweets and retweets increase? You jump for joy when someone comments on your blog.  Did you nearly fall off your chair when [Read more...]

Filed Under: Building Brand Awareness, Business Development, List Building, Marketing, Online Marketing, Social Media Tagged With: , , ,

When is it Okay to Be FAT?

By 1 Comment

Bob Burg, the Endless Referrals guy, says that people will do business with  whom they know, like, trust.

The question is: How do you get people to know, like, and trust you on the web?

The easy answer is social media. The more difficult answer is . . . build relationships, give first, keep your word, and follow through. But that takes time you say, and you need to make money now. Well hold on. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Building Brand Awareness, Building Community, List Building, Online Marketing, Social Media Tagged With: , , , , ,
« Older Posts